How to prepare for henna body art. Here are a few key things to remember before having henna done and how to care for henna after your design is complete:
1. Henna stains the best on clean, dry skin. Please do not apply any lotions or oils to the area where you want your design. It’s a good idea to shower, exfoliate, and completely dry your skin before the henna ink is applied.
2. Remember that henna takes anywhere from 10 – 30 minutes to totally dry depending on the environment and amount of henna applied, but the longer you leave it on the richer the color will be so be mindful of this before deciding where your design will go. The less you move before it dries, the better. You want to avoid smearing and premature cracking of the dried paste. You’ll want to leave the dried paste on for as long as you can. The longer it stays on your skin, the darker you stain can get. At least 2 hours but overnight it best.
3. When the paste eventually falls off, the design will be a light orange / yellow. It will oxidize over the next 24 – 48 hours to be a rich dark brown / mahogany color. If there is still some paste stuck on your skin, rub or scrape it off. Don’t remove henna paste with water or scrub the hands.
4. Avoid scrubbing the area with water or soap. Avoid lotions that contain anything other than natural oils such as coconut or pure olive oils.
Don’t swim in a chlorine pool. This shortens the life of the design.
Don’t go home and cover your henna with plastic wrap or any other coverings. If you have any questions about caring for your henna design, don’t hesitate to contact me at catalpacreativeart@gmail.com. And finally…
5. ENJOY your beautiful design!